Discourse markers in CEDEL2 and SPLLOC corpora of learner Spanish: analysis of some lexical-pragmatic failures

Abstract

[Abstract] This chapter examines the use of discourse markers (DMs) in the inter-language of L2 Spanish learners whose L1 is English, based on a qualitative and quantitative analysis of written and oral samples from the CEDEL2 and SPLLOC corpora, respectively. From the initial description of the utility of each corpus in relation to the study of DMs acquisition, this chapter then turns its attention to an analysis of interference in the form of semantic extension in the use of oh, actualmente, eventualmente, usualmente and entonces. The section after that focuses on lexical-pragmatic failures arising from semantic simplification, specifically in relation to DMs containing the form fin. The chapter concludes with some final comments regarding lexical-pragmatic failures in DMs use, including the possible social repercussions of such failures.